Madison didn’t expect to feel any type of emotion about leaving the Blue Mountains and returning to school, so she was surprised that when the day came, she moved slower than expected. This place had become a safe haven. No one here looked at her like an outcast, and they didn’t make her feel unwanted. Ash and Liv were the first real friends Madison felt like she could confide in. The girls took many walks into the snowy woods, laughing about movies, books, boys, and nonsense. Liam was like the brother Madison wished she had. He was kind and funny, unlike her brothers who were simply cruel. Cillian, however, was simply distant. He spoke to Madison, but they weren’t nearly as close as they had been on Christmas morning.
“Back to the real world, huh?” Madison joked as she a
